N.J. Senate approves bill requiring public workers live in state

A.J. ChavarNew Jersey State Police troopers graduating on June 24. If passed by the Assembly, a new bill would require all future public employees to live in-state. TRENTON — Future public employees who work in New Jersey would have to live in New Jersey under a bill passed by the state senate today.

The bill (S1730) would give workers one year to move in-state after taking a public job. Those who hold public jobs and currently live outside of New Jersey will not be required to move, though they will have to move in-state if they voluntarily change jobs.

“We simply want to say put New Jersey first, put New Jersey back to work,” said state Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden), the bill’s sponsor.

The bill, which passed the Senate 26-9, still needs to pass the state Assembly.

Opposition to the measure from public workers unions has softened since its earlier version, which did not grandfather in current workers and gave them four months to move in-state. Bob Master, regional political director for the Communications Workers of America, said he still has some concerns about the bill.

“There seems to be some ambiguity about those who transfer to new jobs,” he said. “We have some concerns about people being penalized for being successful.”

Master also said he thinks the same rules should be applied to private contractors that do business with the state and other public entities.

The bill covers workers at every level of government, including boards, agencies, commissions, public schools and universities. Workers can apply for exemptions from a three-member panel, members would appointed by the governor, Senate president and Assembly Speaker.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union) opposed the bill because he’d rather lessen the state’s tax burden that he said is responsible for workers moving out of state.

“Instead of bills that artificially create barriers to keep people in, we should instead create opportunities for people in this great state. focus on job creation, focus on lowering the tax burden,” he said.